when will the fatigue from vicodin withdrawal end?

i was addicted to vicodin and percocet taking up to 15-20 pills a day... tapered down to 3 vicodin... and went through all the typical symptoms.... crying spells.... chills.... owl eyes as i like to call them and now just total fatigue.... i have like ZERO energy... i feel so damn weak. i took only one yesterday & the only reason i took it was because my stupid headache did not respond to 800mg of ibprofin so i just said f it... and took 10 mg..... now today i feel so damn tired :( when will i feel good again????

[trdofbeingtrd]

I would like to know the answers you get.

[Katrina81]

Energy and sleep are usually the last to return to normal. It can take a couple weeks or even a couple months. I know that sounds discouraging but try and hang in there. As the days turn to weeks u will notice improvements. Do you have some after care lined up? One on one or NA? Anything at all is great as you may learn staying clean on will power alone is almost impossible and has a high relapse rate. I wish u the best of luck. Keep posting here and you will get some great advice and meet and chat with some wonderful caring people. Take care of YOU!

[opibgone]

Hey k8,
What type of vitamins are u taking. I'm on night 12 and been taking a one a day for about 6 years. It really seems to help. Has the thought of exercise crossed your mind?? Its the hardest thing to get motivated just to get out of bed, let alone a treadmill or a walk outside...however,this was the only thing that reduced my wds. Eating healthy, exercise and taking multi vits or protein shakes should help allot. Get rid of the last pills you have, turn the corner and take your life back!  If I can do it. You can do it. It totally gets better. Trust me. Its still early on the west side...get outside and go for a walk.              Post back if u can get out to get the blood flowing again.

Opibgone

[magnoliaooo]

For me the fatique has been the worst. I have been clean from Lortab for 1 1/2 months and I have fought it the whole way. It does get better but it does take some time after all it took us a while to get ourselves in this mess. For me the first few weeks were tough but just take it one hour at a time. I could not even look at a whole day because I felt so bad, I found staying on here and going hour by hour helped me. I took vitamins and ate well but it took me a good month before I felt like really doing anything. All of a sudden I found myself cleaning out closets etc. It has been slow going but it does come. The more clean time you get you will see improvements. Don't put heavy expectations on yourself it takes time. I know you don't want to hear that but you will see a difference soon. If you read some of my old posts you will see how hard I struggled!!!!! I actually sometimes still struggle with fatique but it does come back. Rest as much as you need your body is tired. The energy will come back in time. Hang in there you will make it

                                                                                                      Mag

[Vincent456]

I went through it real bad with percocet earlier this year...taking 20-25 a day...it was a good two weeks of hell going through the withdrawals. It will get better though. Just keep pushing though. My biggest problems were eating and sleeping. A lot of sleepless nights. Hope it all works out for you. Stay Strong

[worried878]

what is your definition of good?
The fatigue post wd was hard for me as I am a nurse with a busy life...hardest part and gonna be honest///was close to the 90 day mark
AA has a saying, 90 mtgs in 90 days, there is a reason for this.  it takes the brain bout this long to heal and start producing endorphins again, or enuf endorphins to combat the fatigue..exercise pumps them out and is important right now.
There is a reason for the lack of motivation after drug abuse....the brain is finely tuned as is the entire body/GOD made it so of course it is well made!  The brain senses the influx of endorphins/pills/and cuts back on production eventually...then we take them away.  The brain can not catch up that quickly to pre-substance level/and most can not wait it out.  Hence, relapse.
The thomas recipe in the health pages rox.  The AAs there will help as brain food.  Also read the article on dopamine and addiction ....understanding why we feel like we feel can be a comfort in a way...plus we know it will pass.....
good luck to u

[k8tiestone]

thank you guys... now i'm dealing with bouts of anger on top of it... got super angry and frustrated w/ my daughter during homework... then felt guilty started crying... and now i can't stop crying and having thghts about how i hate that i have to feel this way... as they say... no way out but through.... i just want to give in... but i pray god won't let me do that... it sux when you're up in the middleof the night w no one to talk to  and u feel so alone with ur stupid head that WONT SHUT THE F UP!!!!!! for even a gdamn minute!!! im either pissed off or depressed.... up and down up and down.... like i'm suddenly bipolar... i can't work.... i can barely freakng function.... maybe a few hours at a time and then i'm down again.... GRRRRRR i did find some NA mtgs... they're good... and i was in AA for 3 yrs before i pissed it all away... you wouldve thought i learned somthing by now... NOPE stupid stupid stupid girl. time is going by so slOwLy

[bmdad]

Now that you've found this forum you have others to talk with. That's one great thing about this forum. You have others that completely understand what you are going through and there is almost always someone on here no matter what time of night it is.

We have a section called the health pages which can be found in the upper right hand corner of the page. In it you will find the amino acid protocol. It lists a bunch of vitamins and supplements that help during the withdrawals and even after. I felt they made a world of difference. Also, as someone already mentioned, get out and exercise. I know it can be hard to muster up the energy to do so but force yourself even if it's just a short walk around the block. In my opinion exercise makes the most difference while going through the worst of the withdrawals. Be sure you are eating healthy and pushing the good fluids such as juice and water.

Just do your best to stay mentally strong and motivated. You know that you can't stay on the pills forever and eventually will have to go through withdrawals so you might as well get it over with now. In my opinion you should just make the jump. I think you are dragging out the withdrawals now and you really can't taper much lower. May as well bite the bullet. There are some wonderful people here that will bend over backwards to help. Be sure to post and post often. In a way it kinda becomes somewhat of a journal and gives you something to look back on in case you ever feel like you may relapse. It helps to read and remember the pain and the fight you had to deal with.

Just stay strong, work your recovery and make this the last time you ever have to go through this.

Best of luck to you!

Brian

[Katrina81]

Dont be so hard on yourself. If you had diabetes or high blood pressure would you get upset at a flare up? No you would do what needs to be done to get it under control. Addiction is a disease as well. And you are doing what needs to be done to get it under control and recover. Use that anger. Get pizzed off at those pills. Try and just feel those emotions and MAKE them work for you. If you need to cry then let it out. Its good for cleansing the soul. Hang in there. This too shall pass. Your doing an excellent job. This is an EXTREMELY hard process to go thru. Mentally and physcally. You gotta dig deep and keep pushing forward. You can do this. I believe in you!

[gnarly_1]

HI....the energy crash can last a wile it really depends on how long you used how high a dose and your age the 20somethings come bouncing back up a lot quicker then the 40somethings for me my last detox was off methadone it well known to be ruff to come off of
I dident even begin to feel better for the first 90 days....I remember telling my conslor at 60 days '''I should be feeling a lot better then I do'' his response was ''you feel better then your first week clean dont ya'' your right down the middle with age and you where using pritty heavy it really hard to say when your energy will return as for the emotions they will be all over the plase for a wile your starting to feel again and not everything we feel is nice and fuzzy....I tell everybody that detoxes good nutrition is essential to getting well I recamend whey protein shakes there full of vitamins essential amino acids as well as the protein all of witch your brain needs to heal you can pick up a 2lb can up at walmart for 15 bucks the chocolate flavor is good they also cary a super whey for 20 bucks but you need a blender for that one the 15buck stuff can be mixed with a spoon in a glass of milk get some of this it will help over time just remember you dident become an addict overnight your not going to recover overnight ether good luck and God bless....Gnarly    

[k8tiestone]

i thank my higher power that i found this website and have connected w u guys... i'm telling you .... its not always easy to find good meetings and when you have kids to take care of its even harder and you know sometimes your sponsor just isn't around or doesn't wanna listen to you whine again & again... i don't wanna wear her out lol.... so i'm so blessed to have found you guys and i don't know what your faces loook like or what your voices sound like but i consider you friends now. brian you're right... can't taper down anymore and i mine as well bite the bullet.. .i like the way you put that... and gnarly... ive been doing the aminos and protein shakes... and started taking multi regularly... now i need to start doing my omegas again.... i swear its like once i relasped i just forgot all about nutrition (which i was very passionate about) and just figured all i needed was the pills pot etc. this disease of addiction ***** *** dude... its like we have a curse.... i remember though what i felt like about a year or so into my recovery last time... mmmm right around the 2yr mark... and i felt so healthy and of SOUND MIND which is what i crave so badly right now... i just want to be f"ng sane again! not an outcast and a drain on society rather a contributer. i love the part in the book that says self seeking shall slip away and we will soon gain interest in our fellows. that's a good feeling to have. free! so i'm on day 2 of no pills... i took passion flower l-tryptophan and melatonin last night and slept ok... weird dreams... woke up got the kids to school super tired... gotta go teach pe and do kid stuff all day and then tonight is skating night *oh god* so i took my wellbutrin, which i guess i'll stay on for a little while... and some nitric oxide... & my multi.... nitric oxide is just a little energy stuff + a sh*t ton of amino acids & stuff to help you recover from weight lifting... which i can't wait to get back into... NORMALCY sounds SO good. i think patience for this process to take place and progress is my problem... i guess its normal being an addict n all... i want it and i wantt it NOW! LOL anyway... do you guys think i should add some of my DHEA? thats also for muscle recovery and to help your body produce HGH on its own... but i'm afraid it will make me too aggressive/irritable...  

[trdofbeingtrd]

You are doing it, that is what matters. You are where I will be in about 20 days......it ain't looking to fun. However, we both have this place and support. Please keep going, keep fighting, and then, when it is done, you can (if you like) and help those who are where you were. Also, it was brought up, don't be to hard on yourself, keep fighting and accept that we all make mistakes. You can do it.

[k8tiestone]

thank u trd- anyone know whats up w the skin? my skin looks like sh*t.... i feel like i look older... does that recover?

[mildred166]

K8tiestone..that is what i am having trouble with too..the fatigue, well that and the sadness...it is so hard dealing with kids while going through this..i totally agree..i am feeling quilty about being so listless and sad, they are used to a happy playful mom...i wasnt expecting to read it could take so long to gain energy back...that is a tough thing to swallow..guess i cant expect it to be easy..was just kinda hoping it would be like a week..lol

[gnarly_1]

k8te go get a physical  done have then do full blood work but ask for a liver panel
bad skin or skin that looks older then you or yellowy is a sigh of liver damage theres stuff they can do if you ketch it early hope its nothing....my skin is damaged from 13yr in the desert driving with the top off my jeep but better to be safe the sorry....as a general rule we recommend this to all people who detox it just makes sense we really abuse our kidneys and liver with the pills if it makes you feel any better I had a 16 1/2yr run on the stuff and had no damage so the body is fairly resilient but some people barley abuse and wind up with problems just get it checked out be honest with the doctor there going to want to know why you want a liver panel run....keep pushing forward good luck and God bless...Gnarly  

[jerseygirl31]

I was on high doses of percocet for about a year. When I got off, the regular withdrawal lasted about 3 to 4 days. However, I felt tired and had no energy for about 2 to 3 months.

[ROWCO]

If you Read anything from this post at least read this:[[[[ STAY STRONG ]]]].I'm on day 5 with withdraws, but if you have the will power, which id did, try the taper method..( but i did it a little different. start the day by just taking 1, then goes as long as you possibly can manage the take another one. Never taking more than 1... before you know it I'm down to 1 to 1/2 a day.. It took me just 5 days to get there.. Day 3.. hands down the worst... Only thing i have left for withdrawal symptoms is lack of sleep.. I'm only getting a couple of hours (like 3-5 hours) of sleep a night.. to help me sleep, i take a pill right before i lay down, tends to help with the Restless legs, and cold chills... I had a shoulder injury in March, but due to my personal activities and commitments i couldn't have surgery until Aug. so.....the doctor just gave me cortisone shots, and pain meds, to help manage my pain.. I just asked my doctor for help.. He had no problem helping me get off the pain meds.. GET UP AND MOVE!!!! you only make it worse by sitting down and thinking about how bad you feel.. Find busy work, do the dishes, clean the garage out.. stay busy... Have supportive people around.. Talk about what your going through.. Let your friends know what your doing, how you feel.. They might not understand,but it helps with the mental health for you... I have read hundreds of Post about this.. THAT'S WHAT KEPT ME MOTIVATED!! You started the best part already.. The beginning..